[7:51 PM] "Pentagon Expels CSM Reporter from Iraq." An enticing and perplexing headline from the AP. How can the U.S. expel a reporter from another country? The reporter in question, who was not embedded but joined up with a Marine unit, allegedly gave away troop position prompting the action. But the story goes on to say only, "The commander felt it was necessary and appropriate to remove (Smucker) from his immediate battle space in order not to compromise his mission or endanger personnel of his unit." The article doesn't mention again how the Pentagon can order this reporter out of Iraq or in fact that they intend to. The CSM has only a couple words more about that specific point, saying "Philip Smucker, a contract reporter for the Monitor and The Daily Telegraph of London, was escorted by the US Marines from the front lines of the war in Iraq Thursday. He is being taken to Kuwait, the Pentagon says, because of information Smucker reported in a broadcast appearance with CNN early Wednesday."
That still doesn't explain why the U.S. has the right to tell a reporter to leave an (for now) independent country--unless for all intents and purposes, they are forcibly expelling him. More later.
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posted 8:10 PM
That still doesn't explain why the U.S. has the right to tell a reporter to leave an (for now) independent country--unless for all intents and purposes, they are forcibly expelling him. More later.
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